Type cleaning instrument



March 2l, 1933.

B. E. GERLACH. NEE PARKER Er Aa. 1,902,024

TYPE CLEANING INSTRUMENT Filed July 8, 1929 Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNi'iEDg STATES BEssIE Emis GERLACH, PARKER, AND :avec GERLACH, or LONDONQENGLAND TVYPE CLEANING INSTRUMENT Y' Application filed JulyV 8, V1929, Serial No. 376,695, and inv Great Britain August '3, 1928. i

This invention relates tothe cleaning of the type of printing app-aratus, such for instance, as typewriting machines, cash registers, steel duplicating machines or stamps.

For effecting this cleaning, a type cleaning paste has been provided which is of a plastic nature and which has been made up inthe shape of cakes or lat plugs.

These plugs are used by dabbing them with the necessary pressure upon the type, using the fingers for this purpose which is an unpleasant and dirty process.

The object of the present invention is to enable users of typewriters and other analogous machine to clean theV type of the machine by means of cleansing paste in a convenient and practical way without soiling the hands.

In order `that the invention may be more clearly understood, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l shows one form of a complete instrument or apparatus suitable for cleaning the type of onelrind of typewriting machine; Fig. 2 shows another form of instrument of somewhat diierent design suitable for use with a different kind of typewriting machine.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view.

Referring to Fig. 1, a is a rotary body, spool or bobbin which is preferably made of boXwood or hard wood oi a similar character so as to prevent damage to the types in I case of wrong handling. The wood also gives the desired surface to hold the cleanin@r material b .which is a chemical preparation of a Vplastic nature applied to the pe and glycerine. Any suitable material may be used within the scope of our invention.

On the periphery of the [wooden handle m' l is a longitudinallyrextending incision which vforms a rest for an arme and protects Vit from any lateral movement. f. i

The screws Z and lo hold boththe arm e and vthe spindle z' in a iirm and reliable position.

Vby pressing upon it the portion carrying the levelling roller. can be pressed down, thus increasing the'pressure of thisroller upon the surface of the paste.

c isa knob, in connection with the outer flange of the bobbin for enabling the 'bobbin to be rotated on the spindle i. t

TheV operation of `the instrument is as fol# lows. f v

The cleansing. material as previously stated i'slaid or coated upon the. peripheral channel of the bobbin a. The bobb'inV is then rotated or rolled upon ythe types. This produces a tendency for the cleaning material to be pushed sideways, which tendency is counteracted by the levelling rollerk since while the instrument is being used and :rolled over the type, the levelling roller in contact with the paste is continually causing the said clean-V ing materialto be fed romthe sides towards` the middle of theV periphery of the spool or bobbin. VIn order'to increasethis raction when desired the resilient. bridge carryingthe levelling roller is pressed down and the spool or .bobbin a is rotated by means of the knob c. VIt isfound in practice that by thus rotating thebobbin in contact'with the levelling roller after each cleaningoperation,'fresh cleaning material is brought from the sides tothe Vcentre of` the periphery, soV that unused material comesjautomatically toV ytional details would be made.

It is to bel observed that the rotaryV body or bobbin-a can be removed and replaced by a fresh bobbin. ToV eEect this the screw lc is loosened sol that the bearing arm e can be raised froml its position and the levelling roller disengaged from, between the flanges of the bobbin. The bobbin can then be lslipped offfthe spindle i and-*replaced by a new bobbin having fresh paste on its periphery. When the bobbin is in position, the

screw lo is tightened; down again and the levelling roller engages withthe bobbin and the'instrument is ready' for use.

In case the material b is atany time placed or brought into such position as to prevent the bobbin revolving, the arm e being resilientthe user can level thematerial by means of pressing lightly oni-the bearing bridge of the arm. e: and turning the bobbin by means of the knob c as previously explained.

What we claim` and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United; States 0f America is 1. A type-cleaning instrument including ini combination a handle, a rotatably mounted bobbin carrying a body of type-cleaning material, and a roller Ihaving inwardly tapered end flanges pressing upon the surfacel of the material and adaptedv to feed the materialrvfrom the end towards the middle of the bobbin. i

2. A type-cleaning instrument including in combination a handle carrying va spindle, a ianged' bobbin provided with a body of type-cleaning material around its periphery between the flanges, mounted upon the spindle, a resilient bearing arm carried by the handle and extending parallel to the axis of Vthe bobbin, anda roller having tapered end flanges carried by the said bearing armvand adapted to press between the flangesl on the bobbin andintocontact with the ncleaning material.V Y Y `3. A type-cleaning instrument as claimed in claim t wherein the outer flange of the bobbin'. is provided with aknob for the purpose of rotating the bobbin.

4. A type-cleaning device 4combining a handle, a rotatable type-cleaning Vmember mounted onthe handle and havingl a plastic 

